Extension-ladder.



I. w. eonsucH.

EXTENSION LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22, 1915.

1,187,422. Patented June 13, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I IRA wfeoRsucH i. W. GORSUCH. y EXTENSION LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.22, 1915.

Patented June 13, 1916.

2 snisrssnin 2.

FIG. 3

R w. GORSUCH anmmlioz' 7Z6 iu/ 5 PLANDORAPl-l cm. WASHINGTON.

IRA W. GORSUCH, F ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXTENSION-LADDER.

Application filed December 22, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRA IV. GoRsUoH, citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ladders and has special referenceto an improved type of extension ladder which is particularly adapted to be used by fruit gatherers, paper hangers and other workmen where it is required to set a ladder upon an uneven surface and yet maintain the steps of the ladder in a perfectly horizontal position.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel and' improved type of extension ladder wherein there is provided hinged supports, each having slidable extension auxiliary legs or supports which can be lengthened or shortened as the case may require to render the device stable 011 an uneven surface.

Another object of this device is to provide a positive and durable means for operating the extensible parts whereby in use the extension end of the device can be locked in position and remain so to the safety of the workman.

A further object of this device is to provide simple and substantial means wherein by the divertible extension, supports are amply secured against sliding or moving when the workman is upon the steps or at the top of thedevice.

\Vith the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

It will be quite readily understood that this invention is susceptible of a wide range of structural modification without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, but a preferred andpractical embodiment of the same is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a side elevational view of this improved extension ladder. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the ladder shown in Fig. 1, but shows the device adapted to an uneven surface as for instance the side of a hill. Fig. 3 is a side view of the slidable Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1916.

Serial No. 68,264.-

extension tie shown in position in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the parts shown in Fig. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the Windlass device together with the chain used to raise and lower the movable section Fig. 6 shows an end view of the Windlass and also shows the ratchet and pawl adapted to secure the Windlass from backward rotation when workmen are using the ladder. Fig. 7 shows detail front and side views of the hinged parts which make it possible to swing the supporting leg outward as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Fig. 8 shows a sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5, and illustrates the method of providing a guard for the chain such that under heavy strains the sprocket will not become disengaged from the chain. 1

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying our the invention, I prefer to construct the same of what may be termed a stationary section and a slidable section, the stationary section being desig nated by the numeral 10 while the movable part is designated by the numeral 11. To the lower end of the stationary section 10 there is preferably attached the slidable extension feet 12, which are readily adapted to be set and clamped in position as'shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Near the upper end of the stationary part 10 there is positioned a Windlass 13 having thereon a sprocket let which is adapted to be engaged by a sprocket chain 15, which latter may be kept in engagement with the former by means of a spring 15. The rotation of the sprocket is effected through a crank 16, and. backward movement thereof is arrested by the pawl 16" engaging ratchet disk 16 on the Windlass shaft.

One end of the chain 15 is attached to the bottom of the extension ladder 11 while the opposite end is attached to the top of the same ladder. Thus, it will be quite obvious from the construction that a rotation of the sprocket in the direction of the arrow will raise the extension portion 11, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Extension ladders with which I am now familiar are not adapted to be used by fruit gatherers on uneven surfaces, and to provide adequate means for this feature, the extensible leg members of the hinged prop S are attached to the upper end of V the section l l with hingesl'? which have a" swinging movement-about a lateral bolt 18' aswell as movement about the hinge pin 19 positioned at'the top of the leg 20, and to which is slidably secured the extensible leg 20% which can beraised and lowered to suit the condition and then clamped in position I by a wing nut 21 or similar means.

For the purpose of keeping the legs 20 of the prop frombuckling'or bending there is provided an extensible horizontal strut or brace 22 including offset slidably conncctedbrace bars providing a central eye 7 22 and fitted with suitable clamping means a any irregular surface and clamped in po- 7 s1t1on as shown 1n F g. 2 of the drawings,

and to add to the stability of the device in working position the inclined sectionsmay be held together by a suitable hook 28' shown in Fig. 1.7

Without that the many features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent, and it will also be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be spirit of the invention or scope of pended claim.

I claim: A ladder having prop section comprising extensible leg members, a horizontal extensible strut member the apconnjecting said leg members and having a' central eye, and an extenslble. brace device fcopiesvof thisiiiatent may be obtained'fo r five cents each, by. addressing the Commissioner or Yatcnts,

WashingtoxiJ). c1

further description it is. thought av laterally expansible resorted I to without departing from the 

